By Vaughn Wilson
For four days, I can’t recall seeing Covid 19 numbers. For four days I didn’t hear much about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For four days I didn’t hear about politics, crime or any of the usual headline-grabbing anomalies. All the talk for that time was about Tiger Woods and his much-anticipated return to the Augusta National Golf Course to play in the PGA Tour’s first major, The Masters.
In usual Tiger fashion, he would give the people pretty much what they wanted. There were flashes of the greatest golfer of all time during points of the round on Thursday and Friday. With the return, Woods delivered unfathomable ratings to ESPN. With Woods in the field, The Masters’ ratings jumped 21 percent for Thursday and 31 percent for Friday. Woods played his best golf of the weekend on those days.
In February 2021, Woods was involved in a single car accident where he flipped his automobile. He severely fractured his leg and broke other bones in his body. Previously Woods had suffered continual back injuries and had resorting to having some parts of his back fused in order to alleviate the excruciating pain he was experiencing. He has endured what some had thought would be the end of his playing days, but he’s always come back.
The Masters has long claimed to be the most difficult ticket to attain. Unlike the other tournaments, the PGA Tour does not control The Masters. It is a private club with the most beautiful and unique course that annually hosts the most coveted tournament in its sport. Copping a ticket to the tournament sits on many sports fans’ bucket lists.
When you provide the most storied venue, the PGA Tour’s first major and the golf star of golf stars, it brings about the phenomenon we saw this weekend.
It was not without its sacrifice though. On Friday evening, Woods began to lumber around the course near the end of the second round. Unlike weekend golfers, PGA Tour golfers do not ride in golf carts. They have to walk the courses with caddies towing their bags which can weight up to 40 pounds.
What we don’t see on television is the undulations of the terrain. Television cameras have levelled devices on their tripods, often making the ground look level in perspective…but it’s anything but. Augusta National Golf Club is one of the courses with the most dips, hills, and elevated greens. *For example, the elevated tee box on the 10th hole has 116 feet drop to the lowest point of the fairway. For reference, the Statue of Liberty is 116 feet. From the highest point of the course which happens to be on the first green to the lowest point, which is Rae’s Creek, it’s about a 175-foot difference, which is about the same height as Niagara Falls.
This took a toll on Woods who was seen visibly lumbering around the course by the end of Friday’s round. It no doubt ended up affecting his stamina and ability to continue to perform at the level that he had done for the first two days. By Saturday, he was seen using his putter like a cane in some instances. His usual trademark crouch to read putts was converted into a lean and semi-squat.
This certainly isn’t the Tiger Woods who held all four major trophies at once. This wasn’t the physically fit, crisp physique and athletically dominant Tiger Woods. This wasn’t the stoic predator that didn’t acknowledge the fans or his competitors. This was a version that the world has grown to love.
He’s more talkative, more cordial to the other golfers, and more accessible is some ways. In many ways, this Tiger is respected more by the fans than ever before. Each comeback represents dedication. He is so enamored with the game of golf that he has sacrificed whatever necessary to return to this forum. That is what his fellow professional golfers have all agree on.
At one time Woods ruled the PGA Tour on a course to break every single record the sport had seen. His rock star status was well-documented. Woods brought general sports fans to the sport of golf. He made shots unheard of or never attempted. He was the most popular and powerful athlete in the world, and he brought the game of golf along with him.
His fame has endured partially because of what he did, but also because of how he has continued to rebound. His failed marriage was the first chip to fall in his empire. That was followed by the fact that his ex-wife publicly states that he is an amazing father to their children. His various injuries including a broken leg and a slew of back surgeries were followed by rehab and returning to winning. This last episode, the car accident, left him where many said he would never return to competitive golf. In true Tiger Woods fashion, he returned to record numbers. He’s simply the G.O.A.T.
* Source: Golf Magazine
